Bayern Munich Targets Anthony Gordon Amid Nübel Swap Talks

Bayern Munich have identified Anthony Gordon as a priority attacking target – but they don’t have the cash to simply write a cheque and walk away with Newcastle United’s winger.

So they’re trying something else.

According to Bild, the Bundesliga giants want to drive down Newcastle’s hefty valuation by sending Alexander Nübel in the opposite direction as part of a swap-style package. For a club wrestling with financial parameters and squad planning, the goalkeeper has suddenly become leverage.

Newcastle’s situation makes the idea more than a throwaway suggestion. With Nick Pope edging towards the exit at St James’ Park, the recruitment team on Tyneside are actively hunting a new No 1. A 29-year-old German international, coming off a strong spell at Stuttgart, naturally catches the eye.

Nübel is due back at the Allianz Arena this summer and is under contract with Bayern until June 2030 after his loan in Swabia. On paper, that looks like security. In reality, his path is blocked.

Manuel Neuer stays the standard-bearer. Jonas Urbig and Sven Ulreich complete the goalkeeping group. There is no room for Nübel.

Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund did not bother to disguise it. "We've had discussions with his management and Alex is also aware of our plans. We're heading into next season with this trio of goalkeepers; that's the plan," he said, laying out the internal stance with unusual clarity.

If Nübel has no future in Munich, he might yet have one in the Premier League.

The move would dovetail neatly with Bayern’s broader transfer strategy. The German champions have already signalled that an attacking signing is on the agenda, but only on the right terms.

“We agree that we will sign an attacking player if he is affordable,” sporting director Max Eberl said at a Bild event in Berlin before the DFB Cup final win against Stuttgart. “We had a very good discussion and hope that we can make progress.”

Affordable, in this case, could mean creative. A straight cash deal for Gordon stretches Bayern’s liquidity. Involving Nübel as a makeweight offers a way to close the gap without blowing up the budget.

Nothing about this is simple, though.

The World Cup in North America looms over the timeline. Nübel is currently away with Germany at the tournament, his future parked while the national team takes centre stage. Newcastle, meanwhile, are doing their homework on alternatives, with Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser among the younger options being assessed.

That leaves Eddie Howe and the Newcastle hierarchy with a decision that cuts to the heart of their project. Do they cash in on one of their most dynamic forwards to secure a ready-made, top-level goalkeeper and some financial flexibility? Or do they hold their nerve, keep Gordon, and trust themselves to find another solution between the posts?

Bayern have made their intentions clear. Their next attacking signing, if the numbers add up, is ready to step off the wish list and onto the pitch. Whether that player is Anthony Gordon now depends on how far Newcastle are willing to bend in a summer defined by tight margins and big calls.